Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 76.41
Liaison Krista Bailey
Submission Date Dec. 12, 2023

STARS v2.2

Pennsylvania State University
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Krista Bailey
Sustainable Campus Strategist
Sustainability Institute
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Majors and degree programs 

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
TREES - Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (dual title Ph.D. and M.S./ M.A.)

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:
This interdisciplinary dual-title intercollege graduate degree program exposes students to a broad base of state-of-the-art methodologies, theories, and technologies for addressing contemporary resource and societal issues, including, but not limited to: global climate change; sustainable energy, food, and fiber supplies; threats to biodiversity; water pollution and availability; genetic modification; and sustainable design. Participating majors include Anthropology, Energy and Mineral Engineering, Forest Resources, Geography, Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, and Rural Sociology.

Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:
https://hhd.psu.edu/graduate/dual-title/TREES

Additional degree programs (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
BioRenewable Systems (M.S. and Ph.D.)

None
A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Biorenewable Systems are the structures and processes that create and support biologically-based products capable of being continuously replaced through sound technology and management. BRS is positioned to be a world-renowned graduate program in renewable biologically-based materials, products, and processes that fully integrates scientific research with the principles of systems technology, business, management, marketing, leadership development, and entrepreneurship for biorenewable systems.

Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
http://abe.psu.edu/graduateprograms/brs

Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
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None
A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
African American and Diaspora Studies https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/african-american-diaspora-studies/#text
Agricultural and Environmental Plant Science https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/agricultural-environmental-plant-science/#text
Bioethics https://bulletins.psu.edu/university-course-descriptions/graduate/bioet/
Biorenewable Systems https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/biorenewable-systems/
Climate Science https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/climate-science/
Ecology https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/ecology/#text
Energy, Environmental, and Food Economics https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/energy-environmental-food-economics/
Environmental Pollution Control https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/environmental-pollution-control/#learningoutcomestext
Forest Resources https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/forest-resources/#text
Geodesign https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/geodesign/
Geography https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/geography/
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/human-dimensions-natural-resources-environment/
International Affairs https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/international-affairs/
International Agriculture and Development https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/international-agriculture-development/
Landscape Architecture https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/landscape-architecture/
Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (online) https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/renewable-energy-sustainability-systems/
Rural Sociology https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/rural-sociology/
Wildlife and Fisheries Science https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/wildlife-fisheries-science/

Minors, concentrations and certificates 

Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
Yes

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems graduate certificates

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Two graduate certificates are offered by the Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (RESS) program: (1) Solar Energy, and (2) Sustainability Management and Policy. Both certificate programs consist of four courses/ 12 credits, which can be applied toward a Master's degree for those who decide to pursue one. The online format of these certificates makes them accessible to working professionals.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
https://www.ress.psu.edu/node/14

Additional minors, concentrations and certificate programs (optional) 

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Community and Economic Development graduate certificate

None
A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
The Graduate Certificate program in Community and Economic Development helps students prepare to confront the multidimensional challenges faced by community development practitioners. The main objective of the certificate program is to educate professionals who will assume leadership roles in helping establish and maintain viable communities.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/community-and-economic-development-certificate/overview

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Sustainability Management and Policy graduate certificate

None
A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The graduate certificate in Sustainability Management and Policy is designed specifically for current and aspiring practitioners who seek advanced skills for advancing sustainability practice. The program is offered by the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering through Penn State’s World Campus.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/sustainability-management-policy-certificate/overview

None
The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
Bioenergy (online) https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/certificates/bioenergy-graduate-credit-certificate-program/
Business Sustainability Strategy https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/certificates/business-sustainability-strategy-graduate-credit-certificate-program/
Geodesign (online) https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/certificates/geodesign-graduate-credit-certificate-program/#text
Solar Energy (online) https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/certificates/solar-energy-graduate-credit-certificate-program/
Sustainability Management and Policy (online) https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/certificates/sustainability-management-policy-graduate-credit-certificate-program/
Wind Energy https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/certificates/wind-energy-graduate-credit-certificate-program/

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
SF_Grad_degree_programs_STARS_2023.xlsx

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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